Muchas gracias to today’s guest poster, Marc of No Recipes, who greatly underestimates the size of his corner of blogscurity. His post, appropriately, is about pork.
When Michelle asked me if I could guest blog, I was thrilled to have a chance to crawl out from my little corner of blogscurity and craft a riotous witty fun post for you all (who am I kidding, I can’t possibly hope to be as entertaining as Michelle). I was also pretty excited at the prospect of being able to lift the self imposed censorship involved with having a PG-13 rated blog (I think I make too many food fornication references to get a G rating).
I happened to have some green lentils soaking overnight, so I figured I should do something with them. Being humble legumes, lentils aren’t the most exciting ingredients to cook with, so I asked myself WWMD (What Would Michelle Do)? The thought process went something like this:
“PORK!….no no no…. pork BELLY!……even better…… SMOKED pork belly! Yea… That would fucking rock!”
As luck would have it, I had a thick slab of molasses smoked pork belly sitting in the fridge from last weekend’s sausage fest (no, not that kind of sausage fest!).
This dish is somewhere between really good baked beans and masoor dal; spicy and smokey, with an ass whoopin’ shit-ton of umami. I gussied it up with a chiffonade of ramps, but feel free to use anything green to keep it from looking like a byproduct of a horse with the shits.
Smoked Pork Belly with Lentils
2 tsp oil
1 large onion minced
2 cups rehydrated green lentils (about 1 c. dry)
1 1/2 c. chicken stock
1lbs. smoked pork belly cut into 1/3″ thick sticks
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp ground cumin seed
1 tsp ground coriander seed
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (more if you like it hot)
salt to taste
Add the oil to a large saucepan and saute the onions over medium low heat until it smells very sweet and has a medium brown color. This will take about 20 minutes, but it’s worth waiting for. Through the miracles of a Maillard reaction, the amino acids and sugars rearrange themselves creating new compounds that will give the lentils some much needed flavour.
Add everything else, partially cover with the lid (to let steam escape) and simmer over medium low heat until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the lentils are tender (about 45 minutes). If there is no liquid left and the lentils are still hard, add more stock and continue cooking.
Garnish with cilantro, ramps, or greenery of your choice. Serve with flatbread.
can i garnish with baby’s breath?
hey… didja hear? marc said fuck! made my damn day….
the only time i ever did pork belly i served it with lentils. and it was truly excellent.
This looks GREAT!
I just made Michelle’s Jamie Oliver beans again tonight, but this time I got the big ass lima beans and soaked and boiled. DELISH.
I really can’t wait to try this one. I hope I can find some smoked pork belly.
Funny, I think I’ve only ever commented here when there’s been beans in the post.
I have to confess that the pork belly I tried cooking once almost defeated me. It was just SO, SO fatty. I realize that is the point, but it kind of skeeved me out a little. It tasted good, but I didn’t really enjoy handling it.
Feel free to make your own R-rated joke about handling pork.
Thank God I have two slabs of pork belly in the freezer, now that I’ve seen this. I really hope it’s sunny enough this weekend to smoke one of ‘em. Gorgeous, gorgeous food.
Yay Marc, this looked frickin fantastic. And I shall now be on a trek to find/buy pork belly. Good man.
I don’t necessarily mind food looking like the byproduct of a horse with the shits.
I love refried beans for instance. And, lentils are a favorite of mine!
[...] Hit the link to see my guest post: Smoked Pork Belly with Lentils. [...]
OK, so I came over here to read Marc’s cussin’. I was impressed. I also got a pork belly recipe out of it, which is double good. And, I found a blogger who like cussin’ as much as i do: double plus good.
I, too, came for the cursing. But I stayed for the pork and lentils:) I rarely curse on my blog; my husband barely recognizes that it’s even my writing! Must’ve been liberating, Marc!
Wow – that looks awesome and I appreciate the cursing. It definitely works for me
Smoked pork belly? You’re shitting me…
You’re always a joy to read, Marc. Good to see you here.
Nothing says “good eats” like a smoked pork belly served with a side of quipster. I’m a fan of the pork belly, thanks for sharing.
WOW!
I guess Marc needs to guest post to be “off color”.
I love the swearing and the pork bellies!
Humm, I love this dish! it’s getting a bit warm for it, but it’s still rather cool at night. Well, that’s my excuse anyway!
Pork belly and lentils sounds really good!
I, too, loved the cursing. Also, WWMD made me think of weapons of mass destruction.
I found this thru marc’s site. Awesome site. Obviously an inspiring post. I am going to surf the site a bit as I am a first timer.
I like the vibe.
I like snarkier blogs… I’m tired of cooking blogs that make me feel mothered.
Katie
I want people to write guests post on my blog too! Hello… anyone!? Who wants the keys?… anyone?…
Haaa.. that pork… I got to taste it. haaaaa!
Marc, you fit right in here! I’ve never had pork belly, but anything smoked has to be good. Plus you’ve coined a new acronym…WWMD.
Actually found Marc’s blog through this one, absolutely had to make his Coq au Vin.. (totally awesome) Great that you guys are stepping up for Michelle.. (take care of you and come back to us soon).. in the meantime i’m fkn loving the guest posters and the new blogs to explore.. bring on the pork belly.
[...] – A curried lentil dish from one of my go-to cookbooks. Great photos! (@ My First Kitchen) Smoked Pork Belly with Lentils – A guest post from one of my fave bloggers on one of my fave sites. (@ Thursday Night [...]